The popping noise is coming from the engine, i don't think it's the jetting, because if anything it's a little rich. I was thinking head gasket, cylinder gasket, any ideas, or suggestions. thanks.

 

Try readjusting your throttle cable. It's most likely the emergency cut-out.

 

i just was wondering, when you said readjust your throttle cable, where at (up by the handlebars, by the carb, etc...) Also I did a compression check and i got 122 psi, wouldn't that pretty much eliminate any chance of a blown head gasket or cylinder gasket? thanks for the replies.

 

With two strokes you get "popping" from the engine when the mixture is set too rich. The excess fuel that isn't burnt in the cylinder carries on burning as it passes into the exhaust, so in effect you are getting a secondary explosion of the gas in the exhaust/muffler. I extreme cases I have seen baffles blown out.

 

When it happened on my '93 Trail Boss, it was the throttle cut-out. I seem to remember adjusting the throttle cable at the carb and it cured the problem. But I'm not 100% sure. Look it up in the service manual.